2 good Samaritans catch River North robber

April 29, 2010

Two good Samaritans are being credited with subduing a man who robbed a couple in the city's River North neighborhood early this morning. Police said they were questioning a man in connection with the strong-armed robbery.

The couple said a man rushed them from behind at 555 W. Kinzie St. near the East Bank Club around 1 a.m. and demanded they hand over a bag and purse they were carrying.

"We heard the man behind us and made a hard right to get away, but he came right up to us and said, 'Give me all your stuff'," said Lisa, the female victim.

As the robber ran away, Hezer Gonzales was sitting in his car waiting for a friend to leave work.

"I picked up her stuff (dropped by the robber) for the lady, because I saw him try to rob her," Gonzales said. "Then I tried to catch him."

Ron Rooding was driving down the street when he saw what was happening.

"I saw some people wrestling in the street, and a woman crying hysterically on the ground," he said. "I gave her my cell phone, said to call police, then went after the guy. It was easy to subdue him because he fell," Rooding said. "He started telling me how he knew the woman and it was a mistake. I said to him he wasn't going anywhere until police get here."

Chicago police News Affairs Officer Hector Alfaro confirmed that the citizens were responsible for catching and restraining the suspect until police arrived.